DAVIDSON COUNTY, TN - WILLS - Orman A Simpkins, 8 Mar 1856 ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Floreda Duke Varick tallygators@earthlink.net ==================================================================== Orman Simpkins Will 1856 Davidson County, TN I Orman A Simpkins of the County of Davidson and state of Tennessee knowing that it is appointed to all men once to die and being weak and infirm of body but of sound disposing mind and memory hereby make and ordain this my last will and testament. viz: Item lst: Unto my beloved wife Nancy I give during her natural life the following property. One tract or parcel of land bounded as follows to wit. Beginning at a sycamore tree on the west bank of Sulphur Creek below Allen Simpkins Corncrib thense with the meanders of said creek to to the first cross fence (below the lane thense with said cross fense) to the western boundary of my original tract of land thence with said line north thence east to the back of the enclosure thence through the enclosure to the beginning so as to embrace two hundred acres. It is my will and desire that my wife should have free access to the timber for plantation purposes and for fuel and she may dispose of the fuel in any manner she may think proper but not use valuable timber except for building purposes upon the premises. I also give to my wife during her natural life the following Negroes: viz. Isham, Delia, Julia, Sara, Charles, Perry and Rose. I give also unto my wife two mules, two ploughs and gears(?) , three cows and calves to be selected by herself, ten head of sheep, fifteen stock hogs, one two horse waggon and gears, three good feather beds and furniture and such other articles of household furniture as she may think necessary to retain. Also I give to my wife my kitchen furniture or so much thereof as she may think necessary. I also give to my wife the sum of One hundred dollars to be paid by my executor when collected from the sale of my property. Also I give to my wife one provisions. It is my will and desire that my wife should have the use and enjoyment of the above mentioned property for and during her natural life. After her death to be disposed of as herinafter mentioned. Item 2nd: To my two sons Williamson_D_and John M Simpkins I give and bequeath my tract of land lying on the Cumberland River and ---Cato containing 269 acres more or less to be so divided between my above mentioned sons, that John should have the lower half and Williamson the upper half each one to have an equal number of acres upon the condition they thence each pay my executors or my estate the sum of three hundred dollars in one and two years. Also I give and bequeath to my two sons above named eight shares of stock in the Hydes Ferry Road. I give also to my son Williamson one Negro Man by name Dennis and I give to my son John one negro man named Henderson Item 3rd. To my son Jonathan I give and bequeath my tract of land lying in Dixon County in the waters of Harpeth River containing 475 acres more or less to him and his heirs forever upon the condition that he pay to my executors or my estate the sum of five hundred dollars in one and two years. I also give to Jonathan on negro man named George. Item 4th: To my two sons James and Allen I give and bequeath the tract ofland upon which I now reside--containing about fifteen hundred acres. In dividing said tract of land it is my will and desire that my son Allen should have that portion upon which are situated the Black Smith shop and tan yard (?) and that my son James should have that portion upon which is situated the horse mill and dwelling house after the death of my wife upon the condition that he and Allen jointly pay the taxes upon the 200 acres left to my wife and that he, james, after the death of my wife the sum of one thousand dollars in land if said James prefer at a fair valuation. This I require James to do in consideration of the improvements upon the portion of land.To my son Allen I also give and bequeath one negro woman by name Amanda(?) and her child Bekkie. To my son James I give and bequeath one Negro woman by name Holland and her two youngest children Dick and John. Item 5th: I give and bequeath to my daughter Martba Ann Duke one negro woman named Milly and her four youngest children to wit: Amanda, Ben, Susanna and Jim for the sole and separate(?) use of her my said daughter during her natural life and after her death to be equally divided withtheir increase among the heirs of her the said Martha's body Not liable to the debts or contracts of her present husband or any other husband she may hereafter have. Item 6th: To my daughter Rhoda Ann Duke, I give and bequeath two negro women named Violet and Polly for her the said Rhoda's sole and separate use during her natural life and after her death to be equally divided among the heirs of her the said Rhoda's body not to be liable for the debts or contracts of her present or any other husband she may hereafter have. Item 7th: It is my will and desire that the seven negros mentioned in the first clause of my will and given to my wife during natural life, at her my said wifes death be equally divided with their increase between my two daughters Martha and Rhoda or their heirs for their own sole and separate use and benefit during their natural lives and after their death to be equally divided among the heirs of their body not to be liabel for the debt or contracts of their present husbands or any hmband they may here after have. Item 8th: It is my will and desire that the balance of the proprety left to my wife be after the death of her my said wife sold and the proceeds therefrom be equally divided between my two daughters above mentioned or their heirs with the restrictions of property already above mentioned Item 9th: It is my will and desire that my executor after my death dispose of the balance of my property not herein mentioned upon the best terms and that two or three years be allowed them to settle up my estate if necessary and further should there be a balance left in their hands after the payment of all my debts it is my will and desire that the same be equally divided among my five sons. Item 10: It is my will and desire that my two sons Williamson and John act as executors of this my last will and testament and I hereby nominate, constitute and appoint them as such. Given unto my hand and seal this 8th day of March in the year of our lord 1856.